Transition of Leadership at Columbia University

Dear Fellow Member of the Columbia SPS Community,

As we process yesterday's news and as we approach the start of a new academic year, I want to express our deepest gratitude to President Minouche Shafik for her leadership over the past year. Her vision and commitment to Columbia have been inspiring. I would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to her family for their sacrifices and support during this period of service. Their contributions have been invaluable to our University.

While we bid farewell to President Shafik, we warmly welcome Dr. Katrina Armstrong as Interim President. Dr. Armstrong's dedication to our institution and to higher education is well known, and I am confident that under her stewardship, we will continue to navigate the challenges ahead with resilience and grace. Together, we will lean on our culture of kindness to support one another and make meaningful progress.

In these waning days of summer, I encourage each of you to take a moment to recharge and reflect on the incredible contributions you have made to our School and to Columbia. Your efforts are the foundation of our community’s strength, and I am deeply thankful for all that you do.

Let us look forward to the year ahead with optimism and a renewed sense of purpose.

All the very best,

Troy